Since I have my new fondue pot from my sister for Christmas, I thought I’d give it a real workout. In addition to the chocolate fondues from my previous post, I thought I’d try a main dish fondue. The kids thought fondue was a lot of fun, and I aim to please, but I couldn’t justify chocolate fondue as a staple food.
My first thought was classic cheese fondue, but my sister, who is an excellent cook and knows everything about food (she hand-dips chocolates at Christmas!) said she’s never gotten a cheese fondue to work properly, so I didn’t want to push my luck.
Instead, I took her suggestion and tried a simmering broth fondue to use with meat and vegetables. I was a little wary, but it turned out delicious. I didn’t follow any printed recipe, but rather put in it what I would put in a savory chicken soup broth, a little heavier on the garlic.
Simmering Broth Fondue
1 large can (49 1/2 oz) chicken broth
1 head garlic, diced
salt and pepper
oregano and rosemary and other herbs to taste
Mix all the ingredients and bring to a boil in your fondue pot. Turn down, but keep at a simmer at the table.
For the meat, I cut up small chunks of steak, chicken, salmon and then had peeled and deveined shrimp and scallops. For vegetables, I set out whole white mushrooms, onions, carrots, broccoli and cauliflower.
Each person needs two plates, one for the raw meat and one for everything else. Pair young kids with adults to make sure there’s no cross-contamination with the raw meat going on. Be sure to follow all the safety information that came with your fondue pot to prevent any spills.
Stab a piece of meat or a vegetable with the fondue fork and set it in the simmering broth until it’s done, about 1 minute for a piece of raw meat. Although everyone agreed it was delicious, some of my teenage boys were grumbling a little because they had to wait for each bite of meat, so I would suggest serving some hearty side dishes like rice or potatoes. It also helped to explain that fondue was a social experience and not just about shoveling in food to stoke the growth-spurt metabolism.
My family’s favorites were the salmon and the shrimp. Next time I think we’ll try a fish stock and have a seafood feast, and serve a few more side dishes.
For more great recipes, visit the Families.com Food Blog!